Depression and Medical Marijuana
Posted by admin | Filed under Medical Marijuana and Depression
Clinical depression is a very serious illness. People with this condition have long-term, often unbearable feelings of sadness and low self-esteem. There can be suicidal thoughts. Depression makes ordinary tasks such as going to work, cooking, cleaning, even personal hygiene, very difficult.
Once the symptoms have been evaluated by a doctor, prescription medications are routinely prescribed. There are many types of anti-depressant medications: tricyclic antidepressants, MAOs(monoamine oxidase inhibitors), SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) and a few others.
A very recent analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jan 2010) stated that antidepressants are only effective for those with severe depression. Those patients with mild to moderate depression had no benefits with prescribed medications. But these medications are prescribed with alarming frequency to those patients who may not benefit. Pharmaceutical companies profited $9.6 billion in 2008 on antidepressants alone. Is it about your health and well-being or about money?
To add insult to injury, the side effects from antidepressants can be serious and unacceptable for many people. Sometimes the side effects are worse than the symptoms of depression. Here are some of the side effects for each type of medication:
* Tricyclics: blurred vision, constipation, difficulty urinating,worsening of glaucoma, impaired thinking, fatigue, high blood pressure
* MAO inhibitors: weakness, dizziness, headaches, tremors, deadly if mixed with certain other drugs
* SSRIs: loss of appetite, weight loss, insomnia, nausea, nervousness, insomnia, headache, sexual problems
* SNRIs: loss of appetite, weight loss, insomnia, fatigue, headache, sexual problems, liver failure, high blood pressure
With many of these medications, there is also what is called “discontinuation syndrome” – otherwise known to regular people as bad withdrawal! You cannot just stop most of these types of medications as you can become very ill. Patients who choose to stop these types of medications find that they must taper the dose with a physician’s supervision or they are unable to stop the medication.
Another very concerning issue regarding these medications is that there is an increased risk of suicide, especially in younger patients. The jury is still out on this but Great Britain has banned use of antidepressants in those younger than 18, and the FDA now requires all antidepressants to carry a warning that states that they carry an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Scary!
Medical cannabis has been used for centuries to treat depression. An English clergyman named Robert Burton stated in 1621 that cannabis was helpful to treat depression. It was used for depression over 400 years ago in India. In the 17th century it was prescribed by physicians in England to treat depression. In 1890, a British physician named J.R. Reynolds reviewed the previous 30 years of use of cannabis and determined that cannabis was helpful for depression and other illnesses (asthma, certain forms of epilepsy, nerve pain, painful menstrual cramps, migraines and tics).
More recently, patient surveys show that cannabis is being used by many people to treat depression with good results. Many studies also show that patients who have depression as a result of another debilitating disease, such as cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis or chronic pain, report less depression symptoms with the use of cannabis.
Researchers have found that low doses of cannabis increased serotonin levels in the brain, which helps to improve mood. Higher doses of cannabis tended to increase symptoms of depression because the serotonin levels were depleted. There are many conflicting scientific studies about the use of cannabis for depression. Currently medical cannabis is being used by many people for depression , but patients must be careful to use low to moderate doses so as not to cause worsening of symptoms. If patients find that symptoms are worsening, cannabis usage should be curtailed. Chronic heavy use of cannabis is not recommended, but in low doses patients may find the relief they need without the unwanted side effects from conventionally prescribed medicines. Other treatments in combination with medical cannabis may help to improve results, such as therapy or counseling, exercise, and a healthy diet with natural foods.
One of the benefits of being a physician-approved medical marijuana patient is that you can choose which medication strain to use based on your illness and the goal of your treatment. For example, patients with depression often find that sativa strains alleviate the symptoms that cause inactivity and sadness, while patients with anxiety and depression may find a hybrid strain to better suit their symptoms. Patients who are using medical marijuana for sleep disorders find that the indica strains are reliable for excellent sustained sleep with no “hangover” the next day.
As always we encourage NOT smoking the plant as the toxins in the smoke can damage your lungs. But there are many other ways to use the medication (vaporizers, edibles, tinctures) so that you can avoid the smoke-related side effects. And of course talking with a knowledgeable physician can help you decide if this medication would be helpful for your medical condition.
Tags: marijuana and clinical depression
Your Medical Marijuana Doctors Responsibilities
Posted by admin | Filed under Marijuana Doctors
Your Medical Marijuana Physician's Responsibilities
The physician caring for the qualified medical marijuana patient must fulfill the following criteria and responsibilities:
* Possess a license to practice medicine or osteopathy in California issued by the Medical Board of California or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. This license must be in good standing.
* Take responsibility for an aspect of the medical care, treatment, diagnosis, counseling, or referral of the applicant (patient).
* Perform a medical examination of the applicant (patient).
* As a result of the medical examination, document in the patient’s medical record that the patient has a serious medical condition and that the medical use of marijuana is appropriate.
* Have the patient sign an authorized medical release of information. The county program cannot process the patient’s application without the appropriate authorization for release of medical information.
* Provide to the patient copies of the medical records stating that he or she has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition and that the medical use of marijuana is appropriate. You may use the Written Documentation of Patient’s Medical Records (PDF) form to serve this purpose (a copy must be kept in the patient’s medical record).
Tags: counseling, diagnosis, examination document, medical board of california, medical care, medical examination, medical information, medical marijuana patient, medical record, medical records, medical release, medical use of marijuana, medicine, osteopathic medical board, osteopathic medical board of california, osteopathy, patient sign, referral, serious medical condition, use of marijuana
Prop 19 Vs. Medical Marijuana
Posted by admin | Filed under Prop 19, legalization of cannabis, legalization of marijuana
Let’s be straightforward. Our cannabis laws have been disastrous. Rather than accepting things as they are, we can manage marijuana. Reminiscent of the prohibition of alcohol in the past, outlawing cannabis hasn’t worked. It’s created a criminal market run by sadistic drug cartels, exhausted police resources, and depleted our state and local budgets. Proposition 19 is a more sincere policy, and a common sense solution to these problems. Proposition 19 will control marijuana like alcohol, making it available only to adults, enforce strong driving, and workplace safety laws, put police priorities where they belong, and generate billions in needed revenue.
We can give the police the money and man power they need to prevent violent crime, or we can accept the status quo, and keep wasting resources sending tens of thousands of non-violent marijuana consumers—a disproportionate number who are minorities—to jail.
We can control marijuana to weaken the drug cartels, or we can accept the status quo, and continue to fund violent gangs with illegal marijuana sales in California.
We can tax marijuana to generate billions for vital services, or we can accept the status quo, and turn our backs on this needed revenue.
A new study of recreational drug use out of the UK has reached some startling conclusions. The study headed up by professor David Nutt of Britain's Bristol University and his colleagues have proposed a new framework for classifying recreational drugs and harmful substances. Within this new framework alcohol and tobacco were listed higher on the danger scale then other more notorious drugs like: LSD, Ecstasy and Cannabis (more commonly referred to as marijuana). Here is the list of the twenty harmful substances with the number one spot and title of most harmful drug going to Heroin.
1. HEROIN
2. COCAINE
3. BARBITURATES
4. STREET METHADONE
5. ALCOHOL
6. KETAMINE
7. BENZODIAZEPINES
8. AMPHETAMINE
9. TOBACCO
10. BUPRENORPHINE
11. CANNABIS (MARIJUANA, WEED, GANJA, REEFER ETC)
12. SOLVENTS
13. 4-MTA
14. LSD
15. METHYLPHENIDATE
16. ANABOLIC STEROIDS
17. GHB
18. ECSTASY
19. ALKYL NITRATES
20. KHAT
The study compiled this list by examining three key factors regarding the substances: The physical harm done to the user, the drugs potential for addiction, and its impact on society as a whole. The researchers then asked numerous experts in: Law enforcement, psychologists (specializing in addiction), and legal officials to assign scores to twenty different drugs. Nutt and his colleagues then calculated the drugs overall ranking. The end result was the above list, which needless to say has caused a serious uproar as it is in direct conflict with the current UK and US perceptions of specific drugs and the legality of specific substances. “The current drug system is ill thought out and arbitrary.” said Nutt. Nutt and his colleagues hope that the conclusions of the study will prompt greater debate about how drugs should be regulated.
While the research at first glance may prompt a person to ask “How can an illegal and 'hard drug' such as LSD be worse for society than a legal and highly used drug like alcohol?” not many people realize the detrimental effect that legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco actually have. Alcohol is blamed for more than half of all visits to hospital emergency rooms. While tobacco causes around forty percent of all hospital illnesses. Wayne Hall of the university of Queensland in Brisbane Australia wrote (in response to the study) ” the rankings also suggest the need for better regulation of the more harmful drugs that are currently legal.” Dr. Leslie Iversen professor of pharmacology at Oxford University stated that the study was a the first real step toward an evidence-based classification of drugs.” Both Dr. Iversen and Hall were in no way connected with the study.
It would appear (at least according to Nutt's paper at least) that the so called benign recreational drugs are even more harmful than those our current legal system has demonized. Which is a tragedy when one considers the lives that have been destroyed do the current system of classification. Countless lives lost do to alcohol related accidents and even more lost do to tobacco use. Not to mention the lives and families torn apart by incarcerating users and dealers of the so called “bad drugs”. The current system has also resulted in the gross mis-allocation of valuable law enforcement and medical resources. Hopefully Nutt's paper will indeed foster debate and perhaps change within the current system but for now it would appear that we must accept the fact that all drugs are on some level bad even the ones we think are less bad then others but its worse to be arrogant enough to think we can demonize some and embrace others.
Tags: legalization of cannabis, legalization of marijuana, Prop 19
Marijuana Price Drop Hype… Or Scare Tactics?
Posted by admin | Filed under marijuana prices
It seems that some are very concerned that a vote that would legalize Marijuana in California might also upset supply and demand that medical marijuana values could plunge by as much as 90 % and perhaps challenge the tax bonus that cannabis supporters have used to sell the proposal, a study in print Wednesday found.
The study by the independent RAND Drug Policy Research Center projects some attention-grabbing possibilities if Ca in Nov becomes the second state, after Alaska, to legalize cannabis for entertaining use by adults and the first to tax commercial marijuana sales sales. Do you think marijuana should remain medical
Rand Researchers are stating Cannabis prices may well plunge from $375 an oz., within the state's present medical marijuana regulation to less than $38 per oz. prior to taxes.
Among the many excuses some people (especially young people) use for their utilization of marijuana is that is it not a “hard drug” like heroin or crack, and that it is not addictive- just a recreational drug. This is false thinking. What is worse, there are some people who believe that advertising the dangers of the drug will do a lot to dissuade young people from either trying or continuing its use. “For many years, the anti-drug movement in America has been using public service announcements (PSAs) to deliver messages about the dangers of drug use…A… study, however, indicated that teens don't pay attention to the ads or don't feel that the message is real to them. Communicating the truth about drugs to our nation's youth requires more than just a message…Many young people are told that drugs are dangerous, but not how or why” (Anon 12). The sad fact is that many young people today are merely disaffected by what adults tell them, because these youths feel that their lives are overly controlled by older people who do not understand their needs and motivations.
There are many people who believe legalizing the use (and sale) of marijuana- other than for approved medical purposes, would reduce arrests and not increase usage. They tend to be wrong about this assumption. “Drug abuse alone cost an estimated $55 billion in 1998 (excluding criminal justice costs), and deaths directly related to drug use have more than doubled since 1980. Would increasing this toll make for a healthier America?” (Walters A10). Walters also points out that by removing penalties and reducing price, would increase drug demand. Make something easier and cheaper to obtain, and you increase the number of people who will try it. Those who want to legalize marijuana love to point out that the Dutch decriminalized marijuana in 1976, with little initial impact. But as drugs gained social acceptance, use increased consistently and sharply, with a 300% rise in use by 1996 among 18-20 year-olds.
Strict control of marijuana may not be sufficient to stop usage. And, what is worse, the drug- like it or not- even affects non-smokers. “The idea that marijuana affects only the people who smoke it is just one of the myths surrounding the drug. Kids who are hooked on marijuana do become less motivated to study, be active, and hang out with their friends and family. But the effects of marijuana go much further. 'If teens are frequently on drugs, they are likely to miss out on the emotional highs and lows of their teenage years,' says addiction expert Ronald Kadden, a psychologist at the University of Connecticut's health center” (Tucker 11).
Local authorities all across the country have made a concerted effort to make sure that marijuana trafficking in schools (or on school property) is eliminated. “Nearly two-thirds of teenagers say their schools are drug-free, according to a survey…But it's good news, bad news for parents, because the survey group of a thousand 12-to 17-year-olds also says that marijuana is as easy to get as tobacco and even easier to buy than alcohol…Although parents listed drug use as their biggest concern, 35% say they have “little influence” over whether their teen uses drugs, up from 25% in 1999, and only 51% of parents described their children's schools as drug-free” (Patrick A8).
The thesis that marijuana should be more tightly controlled tends to lead to the argument of legalization. Again, this is a specious argument for many, especially in the medical field, who see the dangers of ever-younger kids smoking or, somehow, using marijuana. It is not the old wives' tale that the use of pot may lead obviously to use of harder, more addictive drugs. It is that drugs are drugs, and therefore dangerous within their own sphere. A good case can be made for controlling marijuana only for medical, not general use. “Most arguments for legalization in all its different forms start with the contention that the “war on drugs” has been lost and that prevailing criminal justice and social policies with respect to drug use have been a failure. To support the claim that current drug policies have failed, legalization advocates point to the 80 million Americans who have tried drugs during their lifetime. Since so many individuals have broken drug laws, these advocates argue, the laws are futile and lead to widespread disrespect for the law. A liberal democracy, they contend, should not ban what so many people do” (Kleber and Califano, Jr. 4). The fact remains that all the multi=million dollar campaigns to discourage use of marijuana and criminalization has only ended up that teens claim they are not smoking for fear of getting caught. There seems to be little concern about health problems or addition, merely being afraid of getting caught, going to jail or, at the very least, being out on trial, getting fines and probation. Kleber and Califano (2006) claim that legalization of marijuana, cocaine, and heroin for adults would mean that increased numbers of teenagers would smoke, snort, and inject these substances at a time when habits are formed and the social, academic, and physical skills needed for a satisfying and independent life are acquired.
Despite many authorities and medical practitioners' beliefs that marijuana is (or may be) harmful, more and more Americans tend to not feel that strongly: “Never before have so many Americans supported decriminalizing and even legalizing marijuana. Seventy-two percent say that for simple marijuana possession, people should not be incarcerated but fined: the generally accepted definition of 'decriminalization.' Even more Americans support making marijuana legal for medical purposes. Support for broader legalization ranges between 25 and 42 percent, depending on how one asks the question. Two of every five Americans–according to a 2003 Zogby poll–say 'the government should treat marijuana more or less the same way it treats alcohol: It should regulate it, control it, tax it, and only make it illegal for children” (Nadelman 30). Nadelman (2004) makes some good points: He explains that Marijuana prohibition is unique among American criminal laws. No other law is both enforced so widely and harshly and yet deemed unnecessary by such a substantial portion of the populace. Police make about 700,000 arrests per year for marijuana offenses. That's almost the same number as are arrested each year for cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, Ecstasy, and all other illicit drugs combined. Roughly 600,000, or 87 percent, of marijuana arrests are for nothing more than possession of small amounts. Millions of Americans have never been arrested or convicted of any criminal offense except this. Enforcing marijuana laws costs an estimated $10-15 billion in direct costs alone.
“This is clearly an overreaction on the part of government. No drug is perfectly safe, and every psychoactive drug can be used in ways that are problematic. The federal government has spent billions of dollars on advertisements and anti-drug programs that preach the dangers of marijuana–that it's a gateway drug, and addictive in its own right, and dramatically more potent than it used to be, and responsible for all sorts of physical and social diseases as well as international terrorism. But the government has yet to repudiate the 1988 finding of the Drug Enforcement Administration's own administrative law judge, Francis Young, who concluded after extensive testimony that “marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man” (Nadelman 32).
Controlling marijuana use is not legalizing it. But, simplistic as it sounds, a strong effort must be made by the medical establishment to once and for all determine whether marijuana, for recreational use, is not dangerous or addictive. This is not something for politicians, churches, teachers or even parents to determine. There are warnings on cigarette packs, but people still smoke (although in fewer numbers). Alcohol can be dangerous to some, yet people- including young people, still drink. Just look at fraternity and sorority keg parties in many colleges. Taxation on cigarettes and alcohol brings in billions of dollars to state and federal governments. How many more billions could be garnered by the controlled sale of marijuana? Nadelman, among m any others claims that the bigger battle, of course, concerns whether marijuana prohibition will ultimately go the way of alcohol Prohibition, replaced by a variety of state and local tax and regulatory policies with modest federal involvement. All those anti-marijuana ads pretend to be about reducing drug abuse, but in fact their basic purpose is sustaining popular support for the war on marijuana. What's needed now are conservative politicians willing to say enough is enough: Tens of billions of taxpayer dollars down the drain each year. Control the sale and use of marijuana, yes! Make sure that it does not affect the health, intellectual and physical abilities of young people, and, especially, don't make marijuana a choice due to peer pressure. The danger may be more social (or anti-social) than physically harmful. There are too many dangers in our world affecting young people. Marijuana, wantonly used, is surely one of them.
REFERENCES:
Anonymous: “Repetition & insight help dissuade teens from drug use” Park
Ridger IL: Professional Safety.: Nov 2003 .Vol.48, Iss. 11
Kleber, Herbert, and Califano, Joseph A., Jr. “Marijuana: Panacea or Pandora's Box” World and I ,National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University., Jan. 2006
Nadelman, Ethan A.: “An End to Marijuana Prohibition- The drive to legalize picks up” National Review July 12, 2004
Patrick, Robert:: “The Nation; Annual Teen Drug Study Finds Mixed Results; Survey: Most schools are free of illegal substances, but pot is easier to buy than liquor, students say” Los Angeles Times, Aug. 21, 2002
Tucker, Libby: “Burnings myths: This teen has lost friends to marijuana. Here, he teams up with experts to bust common myths about the drug” Scholastic Choices, Jan. 2005, vol. 20, i. 4
Walterrs, John P.: “Don't legalize drugs” New York: Wall Street Journal. (Eastern edition). New York, N.Y.: Jul 19, 2002.
Tags: adults, alaska, bonus, center projects, drug policy research, intensive study, marijuana cannabis, marijuana prices, marijuana sales, medical marijuana, oz, possibilities, proposal, rand researchers, supply and demand, vote
Vicente Fox showing support of “legalizing production, sales and distribution''
Posted by admin | Filed under legalization of cannabis, legalization of marijuana, legalization of pot
It’s been a long hard road, and an issue fought mainly by fringe groups. But it looks like the legalization of drugs (not just Marijuana) for production, sale and the distribution is quickly affecting the mainstream political debate in most Latin America countries. Last week's bombshell announcement by former Mexican President Vicente Fox showing support of “legalizing production, sales and distribution'' of drugs made gigantic headlines around the world. Mr. Fox, whom as the president of Mexico was a close U.S. ally, and who is a member of the same center-right political party as President Felipe Calderón, nearly capsized the boat at home by in a roundabout way criticizing the very foundation of Calderon's concentrated military offensive against Mexico's drug cartels, which has cost 28,000 lives since 2006.
Meanwhile, the US is still trying to figure out how to regulate medical marijuana, and their related medical cannabis collectives. How far behind the world curve is the US when it comes to how we view medical marijuana, cannabis and drug use in general.
New Mexico's Governor Richardson has now made history by becoming the first presidential candidate to enact a medical marijuana law while trying to become the Democratic Party's nominee. Along with Hawaii, Rhode Island and Vermont, New Mexico passed its medical marijuana law by a bill in its legislature. This makes New Mexico the 12th state to let people who are seriously ill to get the marijuana without being arrested and/or jailed as long as they have their doctor's prescription for it. The new law went into effect July 1, 2007.
The New Mexico bill authorizes the state government to distribute the medical marijuana to qualifying patients. There are 12 other state level medical marijuana laws. This also has the state government trying to figure out how to license the makers of medical marijuana and when and how it will be given out.
California enacted its medical marijuana law in 1996 and made some changes in 2003. It lets patients and/or caregivers to grow the medical marijuana. This has created a problem locally. Some counties have banned the dispensing of medical marijuana all the way to some issuing their own regulations.
Oregon and Maine are in the process of expanding their state's medical marijuana law by opening dispensaries. Colorado, Alaska, Montana, Nevada and Washington have medical marijuana laws that were placed on the ballots in their states and enacted into law.
This continues to be a controversial area. Just in the last few days, a “candy store” that sold marijuana in the form of candy, cookies and other materials was raided in California where medicinal marijuana can be grown and sold. It was supplying the supposed medical marijuana through the mail. This is still against the law according to the DEA.
Many of the states that have enacted the medical marijuana laws are having a lot of trouble policing the stores. They are finding that they are not just selling the marijuana to sick people. Many are wrestling with other ways of providing the relief that the marijuana gives to patients that are terminally ill and in great pain. Some of the ideas include making it available only through a doctor with a prescription. The problem with this is who is going to grow the marijuana and how do you make sure that only the pharmacies get the crop. And of course we know that there are doctors who will give patients a prescription for anything.
There has been no questions ask about these laws in the current debates. No one wants to tackle this important concept to the legalizing of marijuana. Maybe it is in one of the candidates programs with their universal health care.
It seems that if the news media is aware of Governor Richardson's stand on this they are ignoring it. If he will push for this in his home state, it would seem he would try to make it a national referendum.
Tags: legalization of cannabis, legalization of marijuana, legalization of pot
Your Medical Marijuana Doctors Responsibilities
Posted by admin | Filed under Marijuana Doctors
Your Medical Marijuana Physician's Responsibilities
The physician caring for the qualified medical marijuana patient must fulfill the following criteria and responsibilities:
* Possess a license to practice medicine or osteopathy in California issued by the Medical Board of California or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. This license must be in good standing.
* Take responsibility for an aspect of the medical care, treatment, diagnosis, counseling, or referral of the applicant (patient).
* Perform a medical examination of the applicant (patient).
* As a result of the medical examination, document in the patient’s medical record that the patient has a serious medical condition and that the medical use of marijuana is appropriate.
* Have the patient sign an authorized medical release of information. The county program cannot process the patient’s application without the appropriate authorization for release of medical information.
* Provide to the patient copies of the medical records stating that he or she has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition and that the medical use of marijuana is appropriate. You may use the Written Documentation of Patient’s Medical Records (PDF) form to serve this purpose (a copy must be kept in the patient’s medical record).
Tags: counseling, diagnosis, examination document, medical board of california, medical care, medical examination, medical information, medical marijuana patient, medical record, medical records, medical release, medical use of marijuana, medicine, osteopathic medical board, osteopathic medical board of california, osteopathy, patient sign, referral, serious medical condition, use of marijuana
California Cannabis Vote: What will the Fed's Do?
Posted by admin | Filed under Marijuana and The Federal Law
Can anyone else point out the biggest problem with the Nov. vote in California to legalize cannabis That’s right, the Fed’s. How can CA. legalize pot tax marijuana, and regulate cannabis at the state level when the federal Controlled Substances Act makes it a felony to grow or sell cannabis… period. California can abolish its own cannabis laws, leaving enforcement up to the feds, chances are that no one wants’ that. But Californian’s can't legalize a federal felony. As a result, any MMJ club paying California taxes on cannabis sales or filing marijuana-related California regulatory paperwork would be confessing, in writing, to multiple federal crimes. I’m not sure about you, but that hardly sounds like a good idea.
May 12, 2008 - Red lights flashed everywhere. Police radios shrieked a conundrum of excited voices. Cops crouched in the street with gleaming pistols aimed at a skinny young Caucasian fellow holding both hands in the air while standing beside his dilapidated car. A perilous criminal arrest was taking place right in front of my home. The year was 1959, I was eleven years old. Witnessing the capture of this dangerous outlaw, for suspicion of marijuana1 possession, was my first encounter with the forbidden drug. A few years later, I was formally introduced to recreational use of marijuana. I became an occasional user of pot2. As I grew older, medical problems invaded my life. Sixteen prescription drugs, and their related side effects, became part of my daily diet. Certain medical professionals suggested replacing some of my prescriptions with marijuana. I did. The results were amazing. Marijuana improves the quality of life for an estimated 300,000 people suffering from disease and disability in the USA < http://www.usatoday.com >. However, obtaining and using marijuana for medical purposes is a surreptitious process. Conflicting federal and state laws, combined with social disapproval and a criminal stigma, forced me to return to my regimen of sixteen prescriptions per day. Current laws require modifications to help those who choose to use marijuana instead of other prescription drugs. Federal and state legalization of marijuana, for medical use by certified patients, will improve quality of life for thousands of persons suffering from disease and disabilities in the USA.
Medical use of marijuana began approximately 2737 B.C. when Emperor Shen Neng of China, who discovered several medicines, issued the first medical marijuana prescription. By 1400 B.C., marijuana spread to India where it was considered a holy plant that could relieve stress. Around 1000 A.D., China, India, Greece, and Rome developed medicinal uses for marijuana (Earleywine 26). Medical marijuana's reputation spread to the America's by the mid 1700's. In 1860, the Ohio State Medical Society summarized the medical uses of marijuana; they reported “favorable outcomes for treating pain, inflammation, and cough” (Earleywine 14). By the end of the nineteenth century, the development of several new synthetic drugs such as aspirin, chloral hydrate, and barbiturates perpetuated a rapid decline in medical marijuana use. The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was the first federal government attempt to regulate marijuana. Under this law, the government made it “prohibitively expensive to obtain the drug legally for any other than medical purposes” (Grinspoon 8). The law also made medical use very difficult because of the overwhelming paperwork required from doctors. “Cannabis was removed from the United States Pharmacopoeia and National Formulary in 1941″ (Grinspoon 8).
Federal laws in the United States prohibit the use of marijuana, or the cannabis plant, for any reason. After the marijuana tax act of 1937, new federal laws, the Boggs Act of 1951, and the Narcotics Control Act of 1956 “made marijuana a hard drug.” The same penalties for heroin and cocaine use applied to marijuana. In 1969, the Dangerous Substances Act classified marijuana a “schedule I” drug, the most restrictive designation. Marijuana for any use was totally prohibited by this law. The prevailing tolerant social attitude of the 1970's caused many states to lessen penalties for pot use. Eleven states decriminalized medical marijuana use during this period (Ruben 40). In California, the passage of Proposition 2153 in 1996 permitted medical use of marijuana for seriously ill patients however; it remained in conflict with federal law. The federal argument to California's Proposition 215 stated that “prescribing Schedule I controlled substances will lead the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to revoke the practioner's registration” (McDonough 112). Current federal and most state's laws make medical marijuana use a risky endeavor.
Marijuana's therapeutic benefits are well documented. In their 1997 book, Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts, Lynn Zimmer, Ph.d., and John P.Morgan, M.D. report, “…..studies demonstrate marijuana's usefulness in reducing nausea and vomiting, stimulating appetite, promoting weight gain, and diminishing intraocular pressure from glaucoma” (Bock 135). In addition, multiple sclerosis, migraine headaches, depression, seizures, insomnia, and chronic pain are other medical conditions reportedly helped by medical marijuana (Bock 136). “…..Cannabinoid drugs might offer broad spectrum relief not found in any other single medication” was one of the conclusions in a 1999 report by the Institute of Medicine. They also suggested however, “smoking” marijuana comes with certain risks. Harmful substances and “a variable mixture of biologically active compounds” are delivered in the marijuana smoke (Bock 136). Steve Kubby, a medicinal marijuana patient for more than 20 years, disagrees. He believes, “smoking marijuana cigarettes is the most effective and safest way to administer medical marijuana for him” (Bock 136).
Physicians do not all agree marijuana has medicinal value. Many argue the negative side effects of marijuana far outweigh the side effects of conventional drugs. Some elderly patients cannot tolerate the effects of large quantities of THC4 required to ease the problems of chemotherapy. Chronic, daily use of marijuana is required to treat many medical conditions. Patients are severely exposed to harmful toxic effects in addition to decreased concentration, motor coordination, and memory. Chronic use of the drug impairs ability to perform common complex tasks such as driving an automobile or performing complicated occupational duties (Voth 105). Despite numerous physicians' claims of harmful side effects of marijuana, complete scientific evidence supporting the claims is inconclusive.
I became a medical marijuana patient in California a few years ago. The procedure entails obtaining a “recommendation5″ from a state certified physician. After presenting documentation of my medical history, undergoing a brief physical examination, and surrendering two-hundred dollars cash, I received a “physician's statement,” valid for one year, certifying I was a qualified medical marijuana patient. Subsequent yearly renewals required a visit to the physician's office and one-hundred dollars cash. The entire process was simple however, the conflicting federal and state laws created emotions of fear, intimidation, and anxiety. I always feared that one of the physicians' neighboring businesses would report my vehicle's license to the DEA, or that one of the many patients in the physician's office was an undercover DEA agent, or that the physician's office would be “raided” by the DEA at any time. The prevailing medical marijuana laws in the United States today create an atmosphere of secrecy and stealth for those to whom the drug is a necessity. Liberalizing medical marijuana laws will return dignity to those who need the medicine most.
The current medical marijuana certification process is full of problems. Critics argue that it is far too easy to obtain marijuana for recreational use by abusing the medical marijuana certification process (McDonough 114). Many physicians in California interpret the law liberally and provide access to medical marijuana to those not truly medically eligible. California law requires a patient to be suffering from just one of many conditions to be eligible for a marijuana recommendation. This enables disreputable physicians to provide recommendations for claims such as in-grown toe nails, occasional back cramps after participating in neighborhood football games, and many other minor medical ailments. In a recent interview with an employee of Herbal Solutions Compassionate Caregivers6 in Long Beach, CA, she said; “…..several customers have told me they don't have any real medical problems. As long as they have the physician's recommendation, we have to provide it to them.” Currently in California, almost anyone with two-hundred dollars can obtain a medical marijuana recommendation.
Legalizing medical marijuana in a joint federal and state effort will allow stricter monitoring and control of the certification process for physicians and patients. Blatant abuse of the system will be reduced by federal and state laws mandating specific medical conditions qualifying for medical marijuana relief. Under legalized federal and state laws, physicians will be required to provide thorough medical examinations to the prospective medical marijuana patients, instead of the “bring a note from your mom and plenty of cash” treatment of today. Patients will have to provide documented proof of a medical condition listed in the government's official list of medical conditions qualifying for medical marijuana relief. The biggest benefit for the certified, truly needy medical marijuana patient will be the freedom to obtain vital medicine without legal harassment and persecution.
After receiving a recommendation, the next step is purchasing the medicine. Over 120 dispensaries are available in California < http://www.canorml.org >. The dispensary I'm most familiar with is Herbal Solutions Compassionate Caregivers in Long Beach, CA. Located on an alley, the daunting facade hides an inventory of over 100 different marijuana products. First time customers require verification of their recommendations by a phone call to the issuing physician. Once completed, entry into the product showroom is permitted. An aroma filled room contains the vast array of marijuana products. Medicine can be selected from over twenty-five different strains of marijuana with names like Purple Urkel, Afghan Kush, and Organic Diesel. Prescriptions are filled in quantities ranging from a single cigarette to one pound bags; prices range from six to thousands of dollars. Marijuana cookies, brownies, drinks, concentrates, and growing seeds are also available. Payment is made in cash and there are no receipts nor does medical insurance cover any purchases. Because it is considered illegal by federal laws, purchasing medical marijuana always caused me to feel like a criminal committing a hideous crime.
Many cities in California prohibit operation of medical marijuana dispensaries. Huntington Beach, Anaheim, Fullerton, and San Diego are just a few California cities with bans on dispensaries. The primary reason cited by most city government officials is that permitting the operation of dispensaries in their city would expose them to many unnecessary legal challenges. A few cities in California allow operation of marijuana dispensaries. Long Beach, for example, has permitted operation of dispensaries, although in some cases without issuing proper business licenses. Due to the proliferation of dispensaries in Long Beach, they have been the target of recent DEA raids, the last occurring in November, 2007 < http://www.presstelegram.com >. In July 2007, Los Angeles, another city permitting dispensaries, experienced DEA raids at ten different locations throughout the city. The current laws create difficult and unsafe methods of obtaining medical marijuana by certified patients. Liberalization of these laws will eliminate the probability of innocent, suffering patients ending up in prison.
The problems with the prevailing medical marijuana laws caused me to stop using the medicine. Federal law prohibits use of marijuana under any circumstance therefore: using the drug is a crime. I am not a criminal. When I used medical marijuana at a rate of three to four puffs a day, usually before bed, I benefitted from: reduced blood pressure allowing elimination of four prescriptions per day, substantial reduction of vicodin and dillaudid pain medication and their side effects, relief from glaucoma problems, increased appetite7, and less insomnia. I used the medicine responsibly and carefully however, the illegal nature of the medicine, and the accompanying repercussions, convinced me to abandon its use. I, and many others, will certainly gain from changes to the current laws; gains that would enhance my life without harming anyone else.
Many benefits will be derived from federal and state legalization of medical marijuana. Federal and state taxes imposed on medical marijuana sales will help governments' budgets. Crime will be reduced in places where medical marijuana users obtain their medicine by illicit means. Dependence on numerous harmful prescription drugs will be reduced (don't tell that to the drug companies). Certified medical marijuana patients will be able to obtain their medicine easily, safely, and free from legal prosecution. The simple solution of liberalized, unified, and realistic federal and state medical marijuana laws will provide relief for many afflicted victims in the USA. Potential social and financial benefits to the federal and state governments from legalization of medical marijuana are too important to ignore. The decision of what to put in my body should be my own. The choice of not using harmful prescription drugs is mine alone. I must have the right to decide if a federally mandated harmful drug is appropriate for my consumption. Federal and state legalization of medical marijuana will provide freedom of choice for the quality of the quantity of my life.
Notes
1. Marijuana - popular name for the cannabis plant from which hemp and an intoxicating drug are produced. Amongst many different nicknames, marijuana is also commonly known as “pot, weed, reefer, or Mary Jane (MJ).”
2. Pot - “another common name for marijuana, most likely came from the fact that marijuana was grown in flower pots during the 1940's” (Rubin, 14).
3. Proposition 215 - known as the California Compassionate Use Act provides legal protection to seriously ill patients who use marijuana therapeutically (McDonough 111).
4. THC - abbreviation for tetrahydrocannabinol, the secretion the cannabis plant provides to protect its leaves from the sun's dehydrating effects. This is the intoxicating ingredient in marijuana (Rubin 8).
5. Recommendation - In California, the certified documentation required from a physician to enable patient access to medical marijuana without state prosecution. For pharmaceutical medications this is known as a prescription.
6. Herbal Solutions Compassionate Caregivers - one of many California State certified dispensaries of medical marijuana products in the Southern California area.
7. My appetite decreased due to the medications and thus weight loss became a serious problem. Medical marijuana increased my appetite thus I was eating more and better.
Works Cited
Armour, Stephanie. “Employers grapple with medical marijuana use.” USA Today.com. 2008. USA Today. 5/5/2008. < http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/2007-04-16-medical-marijuana-usat_N.htm >
Bock, Alan W. Waiting to Inhale - The Politics of Medical Marijuana. Santa Ana, CA: Seven Locks Press, 2000.
Earleywine, Mitch. Understanding Marijuana - A New Look at the Scientific Evidence. New York, NY 10016: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Grinspoon, Lester MD, et al. Marihuana The Forbidden Medicine. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1997.
Manzer, Tracy. “Feds raid pot clinic in Long Beach.” Long Beach Press Telegram. Press-Telegram. 2007. Long Beach Press Telegram. 5/5/08. < http://www.presstelegram.com/search/ci_7530132 >.
McDonough, James R. “State Medical Marijuana Laws Threaten The Public Health.” Marijuana. Ed. Gerdes, Louise I.. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 2002. 105.
Rubin, Saul. Offbeat Marijuana. Santa Monica, CA 90406-1076: Santa Monica Press, LLC, 1999.
Unspecified. “Counties, Cities Act to Regulate Cannabis Dispensaries.” Cal NORML Newsletter Dec 2004 updated Feb 2005. 2005. National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws California Chapter. 5/5/2008 < http://www.canorml.org/news/cbcegulations.htm >.
Voth, Eric A.. “Federal Laws Prohibiting The Use Of Medical Marijuana Protect Patients.” Marijuana - Opposing Viewpoints. Ed. Carroll, Jamuna. Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3535: Greenhaven Press, 2006. 98.
Tags: california taxes, californian, cannabis laws, controlled substances act, dispensary, federal controlled substances act, federal crimes, federal felony, federal marijuana, feds, legalize marijuana, legalize pot, marijuana cannabis, marijuana laws, marijuana legalize, paperwork, vote
Marijuana as Medicine is nothing new!
Posted by admin | Filed under Medical Marijuana Facts
Marijuana as medicine is nothing new, despite the current groundswell of laws making pot legal for medical uses. Here's a quick fact file on cannabis and its medical history.
1. “Marijuana” is a Mexican term that originally was applied to low-quality tobacco.
2. Cannabis was cultivated in China for therapy (and recreation) over 4,700 years ago.
3. More than 20 medicationscontaining marijuana were sold in U.S. pharmacies at the turn of the 20th century. marijuana based medications were commonly available until 1942, when cannabis was stricken from the U.S. Pharmacopeia, the official compendium of drugs considered effective. From 1937 to 1942 the federal government collected a tax of $1 per ounce for such drugs.
4. About 17,000 studies on marijuana and its components have been published, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, an advocacy group, but fewer than 20, all of them small, have included human subjects.
5. The federal government is in the pot-growing business. Under a federal contract, the University of Mississippi in Oxford cultivates marijuana for use by researchers, who have to be cleared by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
6. The plant has nearly 500 chemical compounds, called cannabinoids.
7. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. But patients in these states face federal prosecution for using it—or for growing or possessing pot for medical purposes.
8. Federal law prohibits physicians from prescribing or otherwise actively supplying patients with the drug. But in 2002 the U.S. Supreme Court backed an appellate court ruling that physicians who discuss it with patients, or provide oral or written recommendations, are protected.
Many marijuana users swear by the drug to treat bipolar disorder. There are just as many people who rail against marijuana's negative effects on mental disorders. Whether marijuana is a treatment or a cause for the disease remains uncertain.
According to research published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, studies suggest that bipolar patients often self-medicate with marijuana to ease both manic and depressive episodes. Patients suffering from bipolar disorder further assert that marijuana is actually more effective than other conventional medications due to its lack of unwanted side effects. The immediate effects of marijuana are generally euphoric or calming, giving bipolar patients instant relief from their symptoms.
However, many of those who swear by marijuana use for treating mental disorders overlook the fact that the negative results take time to develop. According to Bill Hendrick of Web MD Health News, 3801 young adults were asked about marijuana use and then evaluated to determine if they had ever experienced psychotic episodes. According to the findings, young adults who were longtime marijuana users were more likely to experience psychotic episodes than those who were short-term users or who had never smoked marijuana. And according to Allen Schwartz of AccessBehavioralHealth.net, other studies suggest that serotonin levels decrease as more marijuana is smoked. Decreased serotonin levels can cause an increased vulnerability to stress and depression, merely compounding the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Other studies on the subject suggest a link between marijuana use and bipolar disorder, but the results are not definitive. A study performed at the Netherlands National Institute of Mental Health and Addiction was set up to determine the link between mood disorders and marijuana use. The ultimate goal was to determine if a disproportionate number of mood disorder patients were marijuana users. Their finding suggested there was a link between marijuana use and the onset of mood disorders, but the results were inconclusive as to the reason for these results. The study left unresolved the possibility that the mood disorder in patients had gone undiagnosed and untreated prior to any marijuana use.
The effects of marijuana use on bipolar disorder remain inconclusive. Since natural, non-medical marijuana is difficult to regulate in an impure form, many doctors discourage its use to treat bipolar disorder. However, many more bipolar patients have experienced marijuana's calming effects, helping to alleviate their symptoms.
Sources:
“Marijuana Makes it Worse?”, Allen Schwartz PhD, www.AccessBehavioralHealth.net
“Can Marijuana Be Used to Treat Bipolar Disorder?”, Robin Hewitt, www.LiveStrong.com
“Longtime Pot Smoking May Raise Psychosis Risk”, Bill Hendrick, www.WebMD.com
“Marijuana and Bipolar Disorder”, Keith Vaughn, www.ehow.com
Tags: Marijuana Collectives, Marijuana Doctor
Hey New Mexico Where is my Medical Cannabis?
Posted by admin | Filed under New Mexico out of Medical Marijuana
What a bummer, here I was thinking that New Mexico had it all figured regarding medical marijuana and the MMJ Distribution system to their state registered patients. Well as it turns out, it’s just not true. In Albuquerque N.M. Len Goodman can’t seem to keep up with the demand for his state registered medical marijuana. You see Len is only one of 11 state registered medical cannabis growers for well over 2,000 state registered medical marijuana patients in New Mexico.
It seems that New Mexico has been more than a concerned about turning into Colorado or California( to many MMJ collectives)…in fact they have been so cautious in licensing and regulating growers under its 3-year-old medical marijuana law that the small number of growers can't grow enough, thereby creating an artificial shortage that has forced some patients to the street to buy illegal drugs.
Would be medical marijuana producers are put through to a thorough screening procedure ahead of being granted a license to grow medical marijuana. Once that happens, they are limited to 95 plants and seedlings and an inventory “that reflects current qualified patient needs.” What load of crap!
Cannabis Sativa, the scientific name for Marijuana, this highly illegal drug goes by many names. Chronic, Hydro, Thai, Grass, Green. Its use is widespread. This has been a topic of political controversy worldwide for decades. In 1995, here in the US, more than one-half million people were arrested for marijuana related offenses. A whopping 86% of them were for possession. Today tens of thousands of people are in prison for marijuana related offenses. That does not include the greater number of people who are fined, put on probation, and faced with civil sanctions such as having their property seized, driver's license suspended, or even termination of their employment.
The first known Cannabis Sativa plant was traced back 7.5 million years ago. This plant however, did not contain THC. It was not until 1 million years later that a THC bearing plant was noted. It's first medical usage was documented in a book called Pen Tao's, it was written by Chinese Emperor Shen-Nung who lived between 2637 and 2797 BC. In his writings, he referred to Cannabis as a “superior” herb, and he used it to treat many common ailments.
Now, we are faced with the controversy. If there have been thousands of years of documented medical usages for this plant, Why is it so terrible and illegal?
In the mid 1930's the government passed an act called The Uniform State Narcotic Act. This act regulated Cannabis as a drug by state law. During the 90's many places began to legalize it for the medical properties it possesses. This interfered with federal laws such as the 1970 Controlled Substances Act which classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug. Reefer Madness, a government propaganda film was released in the 70's, and gave us ideas and thoughts of the many bad things marijuana could do to us. This movie was actually a renamed government anti-marijuana propaganda video called Tell Your Children which was produced back in 1936. Back in the 30's the hemp pulp could make for more efficiency than tree pulp for paper making and would have put a rich man out. Here starts the conspiracy and corruption in government.
Today, the majority of current prescriptions are man-made and synthetic. A person can experience so many side effects from a medicine meant to help you feel better, that it almost crazy to even try. Add to that, the fact the FDA passes many medications without having any studies on what long term health effects may occur. Just sit down in front of your TV during the day and you are bound to see a commercial asking if you took this drug, do you have this problem then they tell you to call in regards to a lawsuit.
Ask yourself this question. Who do I trust more, mankind or God?
As of today, there are 14 states which have adopted medical marijuana policies. Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. In these states, you have the right to use marijuana for the treatment of Alzheimer's, Fibromyalgia, Dystonia, Hepatitis C, Diabetes, Pruritis, Osteoporosis, MRSA, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, Chronic Pain, Tourette's Syndrome, HIV, Hypertension, Sleep Apnea, GI Disorders, Incontinence, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. These are all conditions in which the use of marijuana has been documented and studied and is shown to have a positive effect on the ailment, at least to some extent. As a matter of fact there are more clinical investigations on the benefits of medical marijuana now, than at any other time in history. It has been discovered that human beings as well as many other organisms have an endocannaboid regulatory system. They are now recognizing it holds potential for modifying diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel syndrome; and have begun to study its anti-cancer activities. When compared to the other medically active substances, it is remarkably safe. The consumption of marijuana—regardless of potency or quantity—cannot cause a fatal overdose.
Over the years, the government has fed us many myths about the effects of using marijuana. This was all a big attempt to keep people from wanting to use it. Many clinical investigations that have been done over the years prove these myths to be exactly that. Myths such as:
Myth 1 Marijuana causes permanent mental illness in some people, especially in adolescents. When intoxicated by marijuana users become irrational and behave erratically. These are two statements which “Reefer Madness” tried to drive home to parents.
With many years of clinical study behind us, there is no convincing evidence which suggests any psychological damage or mental illness in teens or adults resulting from the use of marijuana. It has also been proven that it does not cause profound changes in behavior either.
Myth 2 Marijuana is highly addictive. Those who use long term experience physical dependence and withdrawal and often need professional treatment to quit.
The truth is that the majority of those who smoke only do so occasionally. A minority of less than 1% of Americans smoke on a daily basis, with the number of those who do become dependent being even far less. The few people, who do go to a drug treatment facility for marijuana addiction, usually do so at their own will. If there are any withdrawal symptoms at all related to the use of marijuana, they are remarkably mild.
Myth 3 Marijuana is more damaging to lungs than tobacco, putting users at a higher risk of developing lung cancer, bronchitis and emphysema.
While it does contain a number of irritants and carcinogens like tobacco, studies have shown moderate smoking appears to pose minimal danger for the lungs. Typically, marijuana users smoke much less than tobacco smokers, and over time inhale far less smoke. Therefore, the risk of serious lung damage from marijuana use should be lower than that of a tobacco user. To date, there have not been any reports of lung cancer related solely to its use.
Myth 4 It has been scientifically proven that marijuana use has harmful health effects.
On the contrary, in 1995, scientific researchers from Lancet, a British medical journal stated based on thirty years of clinical research “the smoking of cannabis, even long term, is not harmful to health.”
Myth 5 Marijuana use kills brain cells. Over time use causes memory loss, personality deterioration, and reduced productivity.
None of the medical test in current usage to detect brain damage in humans has ever found harm from marijuana, even when looking at those who smoke high doses over long periods of time. That myth was actually based on a study which took place over a quarter of a century ago which had no scientific evidence to support its findings.
Now I will summarize the information I have provided.
Marijuana has been considered illegal since the 1930's, at which time it was made illegal so as not to jeopardize the timber industry. Most of the government's health effects and other reasons for marijuana being made illegal have been scientifically proven to be false or incorrect. The medications today which are passed by the FDA and regularly prescribed have very dangerous side effects and overall can pose long term health effects.
Marijuana is a natural plant which can be traced back for millions of years. There have been recorded documents dating back thousands of years showing the use of marijuana for treatment of all sorts of medical conditions and ailments. It has been scientifically proven that human beings as well as many other organisms have cannaboid receptors within our bodies and cells. Scientific studies have proven marijuana usage can help with many conditions yet pose far less risks and side effects than current treatment methods.
The uses of and potential uses for marijuana, seem far more promising and less harmful than the problems we are currently experiencing from using the current treatment methods. This is why medical marijuana should be legalized and further studied.
Sources:
“Recent Research on Medical Marijuana” - NORML http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7002
“Myths and Facts About Marijuana” http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_long_has_marijuana_been_around
Tags: albuquerque, cannabis growers, collectives, crap, illegal drugs, len goodman, medical marijuana law, medical marijuana patients, new mexico, plants, producers, screening procedure, seedlings, what a bummer
Medical Cannabis is How Old?
Posted by admin | Filed under Medical Marijuana Facts
Marijuana as medicine is nothing new, despite the current groundswell of laws making pot legal for medical uses. Here's a quick fact file on Marijuana and its medical history.
1. “Marijuana” is a Mexican term that originally was applied to low-quality tobacco.
2. Cannabis was cultivated in China for therapy (and recreation) over 4,700 years ago.
3. More than 20 prescription medicinescontaining cannabis were sold in U.S. pharmacies at the turn of the 20th century. marijuana based medications were commonly available until 1942, when cannabis was stricken from the U.S. Pharmacopeia, the official compendium of drugs considered effective. From 1937 to 1942 the federal government collected a tax of $1 per ounce for such drugs.
4. About 17,000 studies on marijuana and its components have been published, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, an advocacy group, but fewer than 20, all of them small, have included human subjects.
5. The federal government is in the pot-growing business. Under a federal contract, the University of Mississippi in Oxford cultivates marijuana for use by researchers, who have to be cleared by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
6. The plant has nearly 500 chemical compounds, called cannabinoids.
7. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. But patients in these states face federal prosecution for using it—or for growing or possessing pot for medical purposes.
8. Federal law prohibits physicians from prescribing or otherwise actively supplying patients with the drug. But in 2002 the U.S. Supreme Court backed an appellate court ruling that physicians who discuss it with patients, or provide oral or written recommendations, are protected.
Marijuana, Pot, Weed, Bud, Herb, no matter whatever you call it, it is the most popular and casually used illegal drug throughout college campuses. In my experiences as a student at a Big Ten University, Marijuana was seen at every party, every fraternity, and every dorm floor. Out of about 50 students on my dorm floor, almost every single person had at least tried weed or was a casual user with the exception of only three to four individuals. This mentality is extremely consistent with most large and small colleges I've visited. Many parents might wonder if this is true, and if so why? Well the answer is simple…you are not there. With little to none parental influence college students will experiment and do anything to get the high feeling. They strive to get this feeling because it makes them feel more comfortable with their peers and because it reduces stress.
While so many students do smoke pot the majority are not addicted to Marijuana. To give another example with my dorm floor of 50, I would say about 25 to 30 students on my floor were just casual smokers. Although, this number diminished over the course of the year as more and more students took advantage of no parents and plenty of pot. While many students might have came to college just casual smokers, many left as addicts. I had several friends that became addicted to Marijuana smoking every single night, before class, etc. One of my friends told me of how he had to smoke himself to sleep every night because he would lay awake in his bed if he didn't have his fix. This dependency on weed also negatively affected the addicted student's ability to perform in school. Several students failed several classes because of Marijuana's influence to make one less motivated.
Marijuana certainly has a deep and scaring negative impact if used too often, but the majority of college students will experiment and only use on certain occasions. There really is very little that parents can do about making their children not experiment with weed. However, the most effective means of keeping anyone away from any drug is to list the negative effects. This will at least make them realize what will happen if they use Marijuana too often.
